TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
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Mexico bringing some nine or ten Horses which Katumpsa took from them and turned over to me he also sent a man to a band of Noconi and brought in five more Horses four of them Dela- ware Horses and one of Jim Shaws Horses Men are at work and pushing things. The party of Delaware that left when you did on a day or two after returned bringing in seven scalps and ten Horses. they report that they followed the trail of their Horses for several days and that it gave out but they continued the direction until they struck a fresh trail which was the two that killed Skidmore they followed that trail across Red River and stopped to noon when a party of ten Comanche Warriors came up to them. they had a Conversation and finally camped together each party watching the other for Jacob says he could understand every word they said and that they agreed among themselves to attack the Delaware and kill them and take their Horses next morning at daybreak but the Delaware lay awake all night and at daybreak they opened fire upon them and killed four. Charged the rest and killed all but two one of whom was badly wounded and the other they could have killed but they wanted him to carry the news of their defeat back to the Co- manche one they did not scalp as he fell in a Water Hole and sunk. they brought in the Bows, Lances, Shields. and tricks of the party they told Jacob that they had met the Indians that killed old Skidmore and had learned from them that there were plenty of horses down here_and that they were on their way down to kill and steal and that a large war party was coming down to kill John Conner. Katumpsa, Lambshead, and all they could find, they seemed to know all about the conditions of the posts and our frontier and said that they had joined the Sioux Indians against the Whites in the North the Captain Command- ing the party killed was a Yamparika and had a black Cloth Coat an undershirt and Dagaureotype [daguerreotype] with him and on his shield was some twenty white Scalps mostly white Womens Hair I have his shield and Spear the two Indians who killed Skidmore went on to the San Saba and stole Seven Horses and came back in their trail to the Caddo Peaks from there they struck due North and went to the Main Comanche Camp a party of twelve men followed them and lost the trail they then came on to the post, and then here to see Capt Ross I have no doubt we will have the Devil to pay and our frontier is in the greatest danger I hope you may succeed in your plans as it is the only hope I have of having anything done The In-
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